To replace motorcycle license cards in Tennessee, drivers are required to submit a duplicate license application to the TN Department of Safety and Homeland Security (DSHS). A motorcycle license replacement can be requested in multiple formats, including via paper application and online submission.

Drivers must be able to submit a complete application request with all of the necessary supporting material in order to receive a duplicate. The price of a duplicate depends on the number of replacements the driver has requested in recent years.

The process for requesting a duplicate motorcycle license in Tennessee is the same as the process for requesting a regular replacement license with an M endorsement. Drivers who hold a commercial driver’s license with an M endorsement must follow somewhat different replacement procedures.

Permits and temporary licenses can only be replaced in person at a local DSHS licensing office. Continue reading for more important information about replacing your license with M privileges in Tennessee.

When is a motorcycle license replacement required in Tennessee?

Replacing motorcycle license credentials is required by any Tennessee driver whose original license has been lost, stolen or destroyed. Drivers who have lost motorcycle license cards can order a duplicate to obtain a new document with the same expiration date as the original document. TN drivers whose license has been severely damaged or destroyed are also required to request a new license before they can legally get behind the wheel.

No additional requirements are asked of drivers whose license was stolen. Driving without a valid license is against the law in Tennessee and can result in receiving traffic tickets.

Documents Required to Replace a Motorcycle License in Tennessee

To apply for a duplicate motorcycle license from the Tennessee DSHS, drivers applying online must create a profile that includes identifying and contact information. To replace an M1 license in person, drivers must provide one acceptable proof of identity and any additional documentation required to demonstrate a change of name, birthday or gender. To be accepted, the documentation must include the driver’s name and date of birth.

The TN DSHS accepts the following motorcycle license replacement documents as primary proof of identification:

• U.S. driver’s license or state-issued photo ID card
• Original or certified copy of the driver’s birth certificate
• Current and valid driver’s license issued in a foreign country
• Current and valid U.S. or foreign-issued passport
• Marriage license or certificate issued by a state agency
• Documentation from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS)
• Federal Census Record documentation
• Current and valid military ID card
• Original or certified copy of the birth certificate of the applicant’s child
• Legal proof of name change
• Adoptive Decree issued by valid authority
• Confirmation of birthday from a court of law

How to Replace a Tennessee Motorcycle License Online

Many Tennessee drivers choose to replace an M license by submitting the necessary information and application fees online. State policies on how to replace a motorcycle license online stipulate that the driver must have been in the possession of a driver’s license issued in Tennessee with a photo and a digitized signature.

Drivers applying for a duplicate motorcycle license online should be prepared to pay the necessary application fee by major credit or debit card. TN drivers whose license was canceled, suspended or revoked at the time of loss cannot request a replacement online.

To apply for a duplicate motorcycle license online in Tennessee, drivers can take the following steps:

1. Head to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s web portal to check your eligibility for online replacement. If qualified, then make a profile and process with the application.
2. Provide your identifying information, mailing address and previous driver’s license number.
3. Prepare the necessary application fee by major credit or debit card.
4. Follow the application instructions of the DSHS web portal to complete the application and officially submit the duplicate request.
5. Print the confirmation page after submitting the request. The DSHS allows this receipt to be used as a valid temporary license while you wait to receive your replacement license in the mail within 20 business days.

How to Replace a Tennessee Motorcycle License by Mail

Tennessee residents who are active members of the armed forces can replace a motorbike license while on duty out of state by mail. The DSHS does not specify other categories of TN drivers who may qualify to apply for a duplicate M license by mail, so interested drivers should contact the DSHS directly to inquire about other eligibility criteria to apply by mail.

Drivers and eligible family members deployed out of state can gather the necessary motorcycle license replacement documentation and submit it along with the appropriate application fee in a mailed package to a DSHS licensing office to request a replacement. TN residents deployed for military purposes can take the following steps to apply for a duplicate motorcycle license by mail:

1. Gather the necessary supporting application material outlined previously. Military personnel may want to include copies of the Military ID for easier processing.
2. Prepare the appropriate application fee by check or money order.
3. Put all the necessary application material together and mail it to: Tennessee Department of Safety, P.O. BOX 945, Nashville, TN 37202.
4. Wait to receive your permanent replacement in the mail at your registered address.

How to Replace a Tennessee Motorcycle License in Person

Tennessee drivers who would like to replace an M license in person can visit any of the DSHS licensing office locations during regular business hours to submit a request. In addition to paying the duplicate motorcycle license fee, drivers will be asked to provide valid proof of identification with the driver’s name and birth date. The DSHS also accepts requests for the renewal of temporary licenses, often issued to foreign citizens, through in-person application requests.

TN drivers who would like to replace a lost motorcycle license in person can take the following steps:

1. Gather one of the abovementioned identification documents in original or certified copy format. Any documents not in English should be translated into English before application.
2. Drivers submitting information to change their official data in the state’s system should also remember to include the necessary documentation.
3. Prepare the appropriate application fee in an accepted format.
4. Bring the application material to your nearest Tennessee DSHS licensing office.
5. Submit your complete application packet to a representative. You can request a temporary license to hold while you wait to receive your permanent replacement in the mail.

Motorcycle drivers replacing an M license with an expiration date within the next six months will be required to renew their license instead of replacing it. The motorcycle license renewal process is somewhat different than the replacement process and may require additional application material from the motorcycle driver to be processed.

Tennessee Motorcycle License Replacement Fees

How much does it cost to replace a motorcycle license in Tennessee? The standard motorcycle license replacement cost for a driver’s first duplicate request of a D or M license is $8 in Tennessee. Drivers making a second or subsequent replacement request will be asked to pay a fee of $12 per new card.

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